Nigeria Customs Discover Fuel Smuggling Syndicate at Seme Border

Taupyen Kashang, Lagos: The Customs Area Controller (Compt. Mohammed Aliyu A.) after welcoming the Pressmen to the Command disclosed that the achievement of the Command in terms of suppression of smuggling will go down memory lane as he had the opportunity to showcase his command’s continued and relentless onslaught in combating the smuggling of petroleum products (In 25liters Jeri cans and NOT trucks as widely speculated) through the creeks and illegal routes.

The Comptroller stressed that Nigeria Customs Service (Seme Command) as an institution of the Federal Government of Nigeria has always and will continue to enforce her statutory mandate of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling and facilitation of legitimate trade.

He said the Command will also continue to protect the international land border against illicit smuggling and trafficking of small and light weapons across the border along the West African sub region.

He re-stated to all Nigerians that the Nigeria Customs Service operational norms does not allow Trucks/Tankers of petroleum products to cross the Nigeria territory either through the Seme main border nor its Owode-Apa Outstation .

He noted that the Owode-Apa Outstation is synonymous to every approved border post manned by all relevant Government security agencies (Nigeria Customs, Police, Immigration, Air force, Navy, DSS, SON, NAFDAC, Quarantine, Civil Defense, among others).

This is because all loaded trucks with petroleum products meant for Seme axis are strictly monitored and documents provided are carefully scrutinized in order to avoid diversion/infractions, and to equally ensure that the products meant for the axis are actually discharged strictly at the approved filling station along Seme main border or Owode-Apa border communities.

The Command’s helmsman further disclosed that officers of the anti-bunkering unit are always detailed to escort all loaded incoming trucks to ensure strict compliance in discharging the products to the approved filling stations in the border communities.

The surveillance becomes inevitable because Nigerians who resides along the borders have the right to be served with these products for their local economic activities, once the approved structures are in the community and the documents of the products are verified to be approved to them by the DPR.

He again stated that, the Seme border command will continue to patrol all the nooks and crannies of the border to checkmate and ensure that the products discharged and sold to individuals who may always attempt smuggling it out through the creeks or illegal route at night are apprehended and seized.

He showcased a total of 2200x25liters of premium motor spirits (petrol) that have been seized from 1st December, 2017 to date, mostly at Pashi-Yekeme community in Owode and the creeks. Giving a total liters of 55,000 with a Duty Paid Value of over ten million naira (₦10,000,000.00).

The Customs Area Controller further buttressed the point that the smuggling of this product in Jeri cans has been a recurring decimal that our operatives always nib in the bud. This has been our modest contribution in ameliorating the suffering of Nigerian masses over the current shortage of the PMS products.

The Comptroller assured all Nigerians that the present leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service (Led by COL. Hameed Ibrahim Ali Rtd) is ready to bring all erring officers who circumvents government efforts to face the consequences of their actions once their operations is seen to be at abeyance or not in sync with our core mandates.

He warned all smugglers and perpetrators (economic saboteurs) of this illicit acts to desist from it or when caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law as others are currently being prosecuted.

A.M Tanimu is an Online Editor with Africa's Largest TV Network. With a decade experience in Television journalism, and a graduate of University of Maiduguri. Tanimu also produces TV shows with NTA when not on Social media.